“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.”
1 Corinthians 7:17
When Jonah first was told by the Lord to go to Nineveh and have the people cry out from their wickedness, he fled. You know the story. You’ve probably heard it many times; Jonah & the big fish, the one who swallowed him up.
I used to think it was all about this big fish. After hearing my pastor speak about Jonah for 4 weeks, it became apparent to me how wrong I was. Jonah and I were very similar. Our actions and the consequences to those actions were quite the same as well.
Now I may not have attempted to flee the Lord’s will by catching a boat and heading 2,500 miles in the opposite direction… but you didn’t see my heart. I was all talk. Boasting about being a strong, adventurous child of God willing to do whatever it took to serve Him. And when the time came to finish my application to the World Race, I fled. I became consumed by filling my entire schedule with everything but sit-down time with God because I knew what he wanted me to do. I took classes, worked many hours, visited friends and family, volunteered at church, and still sought attention over my application to the World Race…asking my bible study and friends to pray for me while in my heart I knew I had fled.
Months went by and my application stood there, empty, untouched. I was lying, having a poor attitude, trying unsuccessfully to manipulate others into winning over my selfish wants. The Maxwell Leadership Bible eloquently states this consequence: we can be hardened and desensitized to the tragedies we’ve caused; tarnishing our character with a loss of integrity. I was like Jonah: prideful and disobedient, with distrust littering my heart.
I did not surrender to God.
When you step away from God, he doesn’t disown you… he is full of grace.
Grace indeed.
Lessons Jonah and I learned the hard way:
- You can’t run from God.
- Disobedience from God creates turmoil because of it… For Jonah, turmoil was created at sea. For me, turmoil came into my relationships and at work. Our choices damage more people than we know. (Sadly, some of the people who live life with me daily can attest to this during that time).
- Failure does not disqualify a person from God’s service. Ooo this is a lie the enemy likes to and feed to me over and over. Don’t let him do it to you too!
Thankfully I heard these messages from God. Taking responsibility for my disobedience happened before repentance, but the Lord is patient and extends abundant grace.
And so here I am, all in. Forgiven, blessed, excited, and full of peace because I choose to walk through the door the Lord has opened. I trust him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
And he will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
